New collection of The Hunger Games drabbles titled "We Are." Each drabble will explore the thoughts of various groups of people involved with the Games.

Title: Careers

Word Count: 373

x x x x x x x x x x

"Yes! Fresh meat!"

"Look at that one–"

"Good luck."

"–Won't last a week."

"Have fun, kiddies!"

Shouts and side comments greet the large group of eleven year olds huddled together by the gate. An adult and a teenager scan the group. They look skeptical.

"Alright, welcome to boot camp!"

The adult steps toward the kids. Half of them cower. The other half start shaking, eyes wide, staring at the man's shoulder, exposed by his sleeveless shirt. Their eyes flit to the teenager's leg, then up to her face. Slowly, the children meet their supervisors' eyes. The children do not understand the shiny white stripes of flesh on the bodies of the grown ups.

The man clears his throat before looking at his companion.

The girl says, "One day, you could be fighting for this District. You will be honored and respected by everyone. But you are not ready. We're here to fix that."

x x x x x x x x x x

"I'm sorry, but you did not pass. You will not receive further training."

The child looks up with disappointed eyes. Shame. Dishonor. A failure to the district. All these emotions have been pounded into the child from day one.

"Your family will be contacted tonight. They will pick you up in the morning. You may go. Call in the next person."

The child's feet drag to the door. One last sad look back toward the other door. The door where those who pass go. The failures have to go back through the waiting area.

The next child, taller, broader, stronger, faster, waits to be called, then rushes through the door. Surely, they will pass. They will not fail. Honored, respected, idolized even.

The child walks back to the sleeping cabins, head hanging. Failure. The word echoes in the child's mind.

x x x x x x x x x x

"You have all been chosen. You have shown the most potential. You are the strongest, the fastest, the most clever… the best. Will you bring victory to this district?"

"We will!"

"Who are you?"

"Future tributes of our district!"

"What will you do?"

"Fight for our district!"

"What will you do?"

"Destroy the enemies!"

"What will you do?"

"Win!"

With that, the group of teenagers marched into the city square in straight, orderly lines. It was time for the reaping.